Chances are that someone close to you is afflicted with asthma. According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, an estimated 20 million Americans suffer from asthma—including 3 million children. These numbers may be even higher due to individuals being misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all.
Asthma is a chronic lung disease in which your body’s airways become inflamed or swollen, making it difficult to breath. The severity of asthma varies from person to person. In mild cases, some people may be completely unaware that they even have the disease, attributing their symptoms to seasonal allergies or other causes. In extreme cases, asthma can be fatal. Common symptoms include:
- Chronic coughing and wheezing
- Shortness of breath and chest tightness
- Rapid breathing
- Frequent respiratory infections
Asthma is most commonly triggered by the inhaling of allergens and other airborne irritants such as:
- Dust mites
- Pet dander
- Pollens
- Mold and mildew
- Odors
- Smoke
Whether a person is born with asthma or develops it later in life, asthma is not curable. The good news is that asthma is treatable—most effectively by controlling one’s surrounding environment. Aprilaire Whole-House Air Cleaners and the Aprilaire Whole-House Dehumidifier remove many of the asthma-causing triggers and conditions found in most homes. Quite honestly, these products should be carefully considered—as much as any medication—if anyone in your home is affected by asthma.
Build Green, Live Green
